JOINT STATEMENT BY AU, ECOWAS AND UNMIL CONGRATULATING
LIBERIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ACTORS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO
THE PEACEFUL TRANSITION OF POLITICAL POWER IN LIBERIA
MONROVIA – Liberia’s peaceful and democratic political transition culminated in the successful inauguration of President George Manneh Weah on 22 January 2018.
The African Union Liaison Office in Liberia (AU), the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) recognize and thank Liberian civil society actors, including the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, National Council of Chiefs and Elders, National Civil Society Council, election observation groups and all affiliated groups and organizations, youth wings of political parties and representatives of the media, among others, for the immeasurable and diverse contributions they made to initiatives to maintain a peaceful environment and credible electoral process before, during and after the October 2017 elections and the December 2017 run-off election.
We are particularly grateful for their supportive role, inter alia, in the realization of the Farmington River Declaration on commitment to peaceful elections signed by standard-bearers of political parties on 4 June 2017, the Liberian Youth Peace Declaration signed by youth leaders of political parties on 15 December 2017, mediation efforts resulting in mutual recognition by the Legislature and the Judiciary of each other’s roles and responsibilities in a democratic society, campaigns across the length and breadth of Liberia for non-violent elections, independent monitoring and reporting of the elections, support to the rule of law in management of election disputes and management of the electorates’ expectations during the long period of litigation.
Liberia has achieved a significant milestone as a result of all these collective and mutually reinforcing efforts, whereby a democratically elected President has handed over power to another democratically elected one. As we go forward, the AU, ECOWAS and the United Nations look forward to your continued constructive engagement and support to the new administration led by H.E. President George Manneh Weah. We call upon all stakeholders to spare no effort in their pursuit of a prosperous and democratic society.
We continue to stand by the Liberian people as they continue to build a society based on the rule of law and greater social justice for all members of society.